Manama, Bahrain, October 30, 2022: HRH Prince Faisal Bin Al Hussein called on all delegates at the inaugural OCA Gender Equity Seminar to make their own personal journey to truly understand what gender equity in sports really means.
One of two panelists - the other being fellow IOC Executive Board Member Mikee Cojuangco Jaworski - on the opening day of the two-day seminar in Manama, Prince Faisal, was asked at the inception by OCA moderator Tony Tarraf if he could pinpoint what was his proudest moment in enhancing and supporting gender equity in his long career as a sports administrator.
"There has been no single moment for me. This has been a long journey. When I first started, I was at the back of the room and I really didn't understand what was happening," said Prince Faisal, who has been the President of the Jordan Olympic Committee since 2003, and is currently an OCA Executive Board member.
"In 2006, I attended the ANOC General Assembly and I found out then that less than 10 percent of the delegates were women. Last week, in Seoul at the 2022 ANOC General Assembly, about one-third of the room was female. This to me is ground-breaking progress." Fellow-panelist Mikee Cojuangco Jaworski revealed gender equity was "a long process' for her with the most important aspect being showing respect to others.
"As a woman and a mother, the most important thing to me is teaching my sons to respect women. I have three sons, 22, 20 and 14 years old, and it is just not about love, but about respect for women," noted the former Filipino Asian Games gold medalist in equestrian sports.
"Since becoming involved in sports administration, I have taken the opportunity and pushed for gender equality at every available opportunity. There are many women in this room who have made a huge contribution towards gender equality in sports, and I'm very grateful for that," added Mikee Jaworski.
The first-ever gender equity seminar run by the OCA has attracted an overwhelming response with 42 National Olympic Committees sending representatives, and one, Macau Olympic Committee, joining online.
Prince Faisal warned delegates not to be complacent, however, "This journey has not reached the end. We still have a long way to go, and I'm pleased that the Olympic Council of Asia is pushing for gender equity both on and off the field."
